All-optical linear polarization engineering in single and coupled exciton-polariton condensates

We demonstrate all-optical linear polarization control of exciton-polariton condensates in anisotropic elliptical optical traps. The cavity inherent TE-TM splitting lifts the ground state spin degeneracy with emerging fine structure modes polarized linear parallel and perpendicular to the trap major axis with the condensate populating the latter. Our findings show a new type of polarization control with exciting perspectives in both spinoptronics and studies on extended systems of interacting nonlinear optical elements with anisotropic coupling strength and adjustable fine structure.